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Parenting

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Original poster

Ear piercing for babies

84 replies

Nicole1984 · 21/12/2013 06:09

Hi all! I was about to arrange to get my DD's ears pierced but upon seeing some feedback from other mums on another website it gave me a different perspective as some mums had some very strong views and were absolutely against the idea and so I'm just interested to know what you all think. All feedback welcome

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Madratlady · 21/12/2013 06:14

Why would you? It won't benefit your dd in any way and will be upsetting and painful for her. Wait till she's old enough to want her ears pierced. Doing it now is for your benefit only.

SMorgauseBordOfChristmasTat · 21/12/2013 06:14

I think it looks awful. Wait until she's old enough to ask for herself. Then wait until she can look after them properly.

Original poster

Nicole1984 · 21/12/2013 06:33

Yeah never really thought of it that way as in it being my benefit only. But I guess you're right @ madratlady. I guess we can forget sometime the they (babies) are little ppl with their own will which might not necessarily match yours. I like the idea of it being her choice too @...christmas tat cheers for the feedback!

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TheGreatHunt · 21/12/2013 06:35

My mum didn't have mine done as a baby - got them done when I was 16. I didn't even notice it as a kid (not having them pierced) so I would wait.

janeyjampot · 21/12/2013 06:38

Agree with the others. I don't have pierced ears and was glad to have the opportunity to make that choice.

SmallBee · 21/12/2013 06:40

I am massively not a fan of this, as said above at their age it's just unneeded pain they won't understand or thank you for. It's also another thing you'll have to keep clean & monitor.
Additionally I really don't like how it looks, however that's just my taste so I have to accept everyone has different tastes otherwise the world would be boring.

Newmum0113 · 21/12/2013 07:20

My mum had mine pierced at 6 weeks old. It was very quick and the pain is no different to the vaccinations they get in their leg.

It meant that I didn't play with them so they didn't get irritated or infected, as they can do with older children who fiddle with filthy hands.

That being said, my DH is totally against it, as PPs have said it's entirely unnecessary to do. We have agreed that when DD is old enough to be fully responsible for her decision to have it done, I will take her and have some girl bonding time. I'd probably like to do this between primary and secondary school to help her feel more grown up. But that is me overthinking it!!

HTH

BotBotticelli · 21/12/2013 10:41

After about 2 years of constand badgering my mum about it, she finally caved and let me get mine pierced when I was 7. I then didn't clean them properly nd they got infected. Badly. The skin closed up over the front of one of the studs . cue a trip to casualty with my squeamish and very angry dad!!

Wouldnt recommend ear piercing until theyre old enough to look after them properly. Teenagers maybe? Got mine done again at 13 and they were fine. Got my lip pierced at 18 and more anger from dad!!

TeenageWaistband · 21/12/2013 10:47

I think it's fairer to wait until they are old enough to understand the implications and how to care for them, and then if they really are keen I'd probably go for it.

But probably I'd wait till secondary school, for the simple reason that most schools seem to have a no earrings rule in their uniform policy, and ours states that studs need to be removed before each lesson - not sure how well that works in practise!

The thing is it DOES hurt, and the babies screaming in Claires make me want to cry - it's so unnecessary and unkind, I mean, if I didn't want it done as an adult I wouldn't expect someone to go ahead despite my screaming...so I don't think we should do it to children in those circumstances either.

Also it's best to get them done at a proper specialist piercing salon, with a needle - the guns are really not recommended.

raggedmum · 21/12/2013 18:27

Why would you want to make holes in your babies ears? I think it looks really chavvy too

Eletheomel · 21/12/2013 19:22

I wouldn't do it as I think having a bit of your body altered is something that an individual should decide on - and aesthetically speaking I don't like the look of it.

I begged and begged my mum to get my ears pierced when I was little and eventually she caved when I was about 8/9 years old. Still young by a lot of people's standards but it was something I had gone on about for about 2 years and I definitely wanted it done (of course nowadays I've not worn earrings for about 25 years!). Thing is, it was my choice, not one inflicted on me by my mum before I even had a chance to think about it.

However, one of my main concerns about piercing babies/toddlers ears is the hazards of other grabby babies/toddlers/older children. The idea of an earring being ripped out of my babies ear by an older baby/toddler/child who wanted the 'shiny shiny' horrifies me - I could never do it.

purrforamincepie · 21/12/2013 19:29

For me, it's a moral issue. There is no benefit to the baby. The pain may be comparable to that of a vaccination, but we don't actually know that. Besides which, a vaccination is significantly important for health reasons, so the pain is outweighed by the benefits.

It's an issue of consent. Would you wait until a baby could give consent before vaccinating? No. Their need for a vaccine is in their own best interests and could save a life, either their own or via herd immunity.

Should you wait until a child can give consent before introducing a permanent skin puncture for the sake of fashion accessories? Of course you should. A baby needs feeding, cleaning, warmth and a lot of love. They do not need fashion accessories.

Upcycled · 21/12/2013 19:30

didn't read the thread but in my home country it is part of the culture and totally normal, the nurses do it after birth and the mother brings a special new born little gold earrings.

QuintessentialShadows · 21/12/2013 19:32

I dont see much difference in piercing baby's ears or doing a circumcision on a baby girl. Not really in babys interest to do either.

Fairylea · 21/12/2013 19:35

Wait until she's old enough to decide for herself.

I think it's cruel and unnecessary.

And them catching them on things and the potential of not healing properly would also worry me...

eurochick · 21/12/2013 19:40

It's a decision that should be made by the individual, not made for them.

Mabelandrose · 21/12/2013 19:43

Looks really terrible in my opinion.

starlight1234 · 21/12/2013 19:46

I don't like it...I don't think it looks nice on babies ..

I didn't enjoy seeing my DS cry having his immunisations...but I knew it was important to him...I am not sure I could see him cry for something he can easily have done at a later date

SavoyCabbage · 21/12/2013 19:48

My dh's mother had his ears pierced when he was a baby. He's got an important and serious job now and he says he feels like a twat if anyone notices the scars where the piercings were. He is not the type of chap who would ever had chosen that for himself.

YoureBeingASillyBilly · 21/12/2013 19:50

Why would you want to intentionally hurt your child? You love her right? You know its your job to protect her from people who want to hurt her? So why on earth wouldnt you want to knock flat anyone who approached her with a piercing gun?

KongKickeroo · 21/12/2013 19:51

Just a practical point. My mother got mine done when I was 3 months old.

They are wonky. As in, the right position, but different angles, such that earrings point in different directions and look weird.

I got one side re-done to match the other as an adult but the old hole will never close up after so many years, so I'm stuck with two holes in one ear and one in the other. Nice.

So even putting aside the (very relevant) moral arguments, it is really quite a daft thing to attempt on a baby or young child.

loveolives · 21/12/2013 19:51

If she can give her consent to having pointless holes in her body then go ahead.

AnnieLobeseder · 21/12/2013 19:57

"I guess we can forget sometime the they (babies) are little ppl with their own will which might not necessarily match yours"

Well, no, actually, I have never "forgotten" that my children are human beings with bodily autonomy. I don't understand how anyone can think it's okay to make permanent bodily modifications to another human being without their consent.

rockybalboa · 21/12/2013 20:10

Looks hideous on babies. I know that in some cultures (such as in Spain) it is very much the done thing but here, where it isn't, it just looks really tacky. I can't believe the poster who equates it with giving them their vaccinations. TOTALLY different kettles of fish.

MrJollyLivesNextDoor · 21/12/2013 20:11

Where DP is from it is the cultural norm for baby girls to get their ears pierced at around 6 months. It's just horrid. Some friends of ours had their daughter's done, I just couldn't get my head around it, they thought I was weird for questioning it

When I was pregnant I told DH in no uncertain terms that if we were having a girl there was no way on this earth that I would even consider it.

He agreed with me anyway and not only because I threatened to chop his knackers off if it were to happen

We had a boy

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